What's the goal of the event? Are you looking to share information? Create relationships? Explore something new together?

• Is the audience clearly defined?

• Choose an event name that is clear, compelling, and exciting.

  • Create consistent naming and branding as a group over time

• Choose an event format that meets your goals and is appropriate to your audience. Formats include...

  • Presentations

  • Tutorials

  • ​Panels/ roundtables

  • Show-and-tell/ case study

  • ​Unconference/ Open Space​

  • Workshops

  • Co-working, hackathons, or other generative formats

• Does it hang together? Have you chosen a format, name, venue, and time that will be compelling to your audience and will meet your goals?

• ​User group meetings can incorporate any of the formats above.

• See Event Marketing for tips on getting the word out

Speakers & content

• Try to get people from the group to present. Presenting can lead to more group leadership & ownership.

• Other places to source speakers

  • AU speakers

  • Expert Elites

  • Resellers

• Post the pictures of the people who’ll be presenting at your event, link to their website or LinkedIn page. (Example: DFWIUG Past Speakers list)

  • It looks good and and attracts people.

  • It acknowledges presenters’ expertise and helps them get their personal brand out there.

• If you do really advanced topics, you’ll have a smaller event. But that might be what you want.

Venues

• Venues might include

  • Offices

    • Autodesk offices, if you're near one and there's space available (contact us)

    • Autodesk partner offices

  • Bars/ restaurants

  • Schools/ classrooms

  • Conference centers

• Choose a venue or online platform to match your format & goals

  • Don't be afraid to rearrange the furniture to enable people flow and conversation, based on your goals & agenda.

• Location, location, location - it’s crucial!

  • Accessibility by public transport

  • Parking availability

  • Compelling space or neighborhood - where people want to go

  • If you're in a major city, find a central location to host the event so everyone can attend and drive the same distance.

• It's a good idea to create a spreadsheet of local venues that your group might use, with contact information. This is a good shared resource for leaders.

• Make sure you know any rules that might be imposed by the venue (e.g. no outside food)

  • Be careful of food and drink costs at venues like conference centers. They may be significantly marked-up.

• For larger events, you may need a venue that offers multiple rooms.

• Do a site visit

Engage to improve

​ Submit questions, feedback, or suggestions on hosting events​

​ Connect with a peer mentor on hosting events - access codes listed here for Autodesk Group Network members. Become a peer mentor​